According to report reaching oyogist.com, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has told herders in Ondo State to remain in their locations and reject any move to label them as criminals.
Spokesman of the forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement on Wednesday, asked the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to stop the ultimatum given to herders to vacate forest reserves in the State.
Recall that on Monday, governor Akeredolu gave herders a seven-day ultimatum to leave the forests, citing the rising insecurity in the State.
According to the forum, “Northern Elders Forum is shocked at reports that Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is asking a Fulani community to leave its lawful location, in addition to other restrictions on activities of Fulani people who have lived in the State for a long period.”
It added, “His duty to protect and improve the security of citizens and all people in Ondo State cannot be challenged.”
“If there are criminal elements among the Fulani who live in the State, the governor should take appropriate steps to identify them and deal with them. Similarly, the Fulani do not enjoy legal immunity in any part of Nigeria.”
It called on Governor Akeredolu to rescind his order on the Fulani, or clarify his position in the event that he is misunderstood, adding, “for the avoidance of doubt, no Fulani anywhere in Nigeria will accept unfair and illegal treatment just for being Fulani.”
